Friday, 16 February 2018

Following a successful first year, Cats Protection’s Paws Protect service is expanding into three new counties – Sussex, Kent and Surrey. Currently operating in London, Hertfordshire and Essex, the service was originally set up in response to a number of enquiries received in relation to domestic abuse and pet safety.

The service is a support for cat owners fleeing from domestic violence, keeping cats safe until they are ready to be reunited. On referral, cats are health checked before being temporarily homed with a foster carer. All information shared between the cat owner and fosterer is confidential and coordinated by the Paws Protect team, ensuring complete anonymity.

As Carrie-Anne Martin, Paws Protect Project Coordinator, says: “Paws Protect fosterers and the protection of anonymity are at the heart of the service and enable cats to live in a loving home while their owners settle in a new life away from domestic abuse.”

Adding to the success of the project’s first year as a stand-alone Cats Protection service, the charity won a competition by video production company Through the I to receive a pro bono video promoting the project. Sharing details of the service, the video invites people to become Paws Protect fosterers, or if they aren’t able to give their time, to donate instead.

Cat fosterer Georgina says: “Being a Paws Protect fosterer is a wonderful experience. Cats that are often very timid soon come round and start to purr and play again like well-balanced, happy, safe cats. They’ve been through very difficult times and have had a lot of unsettling upheaval so I feel that I am doing something really valuable and worthwhile for cats and their owners.”

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Fond Margaret, Ron Com and DJ Loveham, these are just some of the names cat-loving comedian Bob Mortimer has chosen for unwanted moggies being cared for at Cats Protection’s National Adoption Centre.

Bob started coming up with unusual cat names as a way to amuse his followers on Twitter and then began turning them into feline-themed artwork sold online by Wordynumnum.

A portion of the profits from each sale are donated to Cats Protection, so the charity invited Bob to visit its centre in Sussex to say thank you.

While he was there he got to meet some of the cats who have been given his ‘romantic’ cat names, which have been used in a ‘Tender Gary’ art print for Valentine’s Day.

Bob explained: “I’m a big cat lover and have always had them in my life so it’s great to be supporting Cats Protection, which does so much to help unwanted moggies. I have two cats at the moment, called Goodmonson and Mavis, but I love naming cats and am always calling them different things every day.

“I’ve loved seeing all the cats at the centre. It’s a bit sad, but they’re well cared for and it’s nice to think they’ll all be going to lovely homes.”

Danielle Draper, Manager of Cats Protection’s National Adoption Centre, said the charity was grateful to Bob, not only for supporting the charity but for also helping to inspire some new names for cats in its care. She added: “Sadly, with hundreds coming through our centre each year it can be hard to think up original names for them all.”

Here are some of the cats named by Bob who will soon be looking for homes:

Fond Margaret
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Credit: McCrickard Photography

Fond Margaret was found straying in a garden in Romford for six weeks plus. Her age has been estimated at 10 years old. She’s a really sweet, loving, friendly girl who loves a fuss and will be available for adoption soon.

DJ Loveham
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Credit: McCrickard Photography

DJ was found as a stray in Tunbridge Wells and had been in the area for up to a year. His age has been estimated at one-year-old. He is absolutely lovely, loves attention and is very talkative. He has a collar on at the moment to prevent him from scratching his wound, but will be available for adoption once this has healed. DJ would like a home with a garden with someone who can give him copious amounts of fuss. Dependant on a successful introduction at the centre he may be able to live with children.

Lacey Bedspread

Lacey was found straying in Camberley for six months. When she came in we located a microchip so contacted the owner but they’d rehomed her and the details weren’t updated so we can’t trace an owner. She’s eight years 11 months old from the microchip. She’s a very shy girl who’s currently seeking security from underneath her fort. She’s available for adoption now and is looking for a calm home where she can get used to things at her own pace.

Ron Com

Ron Com was found straying in Basildon. His age has been estimated at six years old, he’s black and white and available for adoption now. He’s a very timid boy so probably looking for a really quiet home with an understanding owner who will let him settle at his own pace. It would probably be best he’s homed without children or animals.

To find out about any of the cats currently being cared for at Cats Protection’s National Cat Adoption Centre, please email the centre at cattery.reception@cats.org.uk

Monday, 12 February 2018

Tabby-and-white cat Kitty is now safely back home with her relieved owner after suffering a nasty injury to her tail.

It is thought she had been attacked, possibly by a fox, and was found cowering beneath bushes in Leigh in October 2017 by a member of the public, who called Cats Protection’s Southend & District Branch for help.

Volunteer Jan Davies arranged for the cat to be taken to the local Vets4Pets, where she was given emergency treatment straight away. Her tail had been badly bitten and had become infected, one of her teeth had broken off and become wedged in the roof of her mouth and she was incredibly thin.

The vets weren’t sure whether she would survive her operation, but the brave cat pulled though and after a few days was handed over to Cats Protection fosterer Rafe King. Rafe said: “The vets asked me to take her home as she needed lots of TLC. So I came home with a cat – I’d only called into the surgery to drop off the new issues of the branch newsletter!”

Rafe named the cat Kate, after the singer Kate Bush, because she had been found under a bush, and provided her with everything she needed while she recovered. However, a few days later he noticed that her tail was not getting better and so Kate had to go back to the vets to get half of it removed.

The operation was a success and Kate did not miss her tail, but she wasn’t pleased to have to wear a collar to stop her licking the wound. Rafe added: “She looked at me to say ‘And how do you think I am going to eat my food now?’ Well, she was not going to be beaten. She scooped up her biscuits into her collar and then lifted her head right backwards to get the biscuits to roll down into her mouth. Who said cats are not clever?”

Throughout Kate’s ordeal, volunteer Jan Davies had been trying to trace her owner, but as she had no microchip and there were no matches for her on the branch’s Lost & Found register, she hadn’t had any luck.

She put Kate’s photo on the branch’s website and within a week received a call from Barbara Peach, who thought the cat might be hers. She revealed that her cat Kitty had gone missing from her a garden a few weeks previously but after searching day and night for her she had started to lose hope.

Barbara went to visit the cat in foster care and immediately burst into tears. She said: “That’s my Kitty. I can’t believe she’s still alive after all this time. It’s not knowing that makes things worse.”

As soon as Kitty’s tail had healed she went home with Barbara and has since been microchipped. Barbara was so grateful to Cats Protection for helping Kitty that she presented the Southend & District Branch with a generous cheque to help them care for other cats in the area and has now become a member of the charity.

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Is your special someone crazy about cats? This Valentine’s Day treat them to a marvellous moggy-inspired gift that will also help to show some love for the thousands of unwanted cats and kittens in Cats Protection’s care.

Comedian Bob Mortimer has teamed up with online gift company Wordynumnum to create a Valentine’s card featuring romantic cat names, including Tender Gary, Strokey McPokey and Lacy Bedspread. They are kindly donating some of the proceeds from each sale to Cats Protection and have even donated some of the names too!

For a meowvellous gift that your partner can enjoy all year round, why not sponsor a Cats Protection pen in their name? They will get regular updates on the adorable cats staying in their pen and will help to make sure they are being well cared for while they wait for their forever homes.

Of course, Valentine’s Day is also a great time to show your own feline friend some love too. They will go crazy for this heart-shaped toy that’s stuffed with 100% organically grown American catnip, purrfect for playtime!

Monday, 5 February 2018

Cats Protection’s Birmingham Adoption Centre is appealing to local cat lovers to take in two mature moggies in their care.

Captain and his best buddy Pugwash have been overlooked for adoption time and again because of their age and medical needs, but all they want is a loving home together.

Can you give Captain (left) and his best buddy Pugwash (right) a home?

Captain is around 15 years old and had to have one of his front legs amputated when he was younger. Having to take all of his weight on his remaining legs has left him with arthritis, but he happily gobbles up his daily medication with no fuss when it’s hidden in his food.

Pugwash is around 10 years old and has taken it upon himself to look after his mate Captain. These two older kitties are very close and enjoy washing each other, eating together and curling up for a snooze together.

Paula Beswick, Deputy Manager of Cats Protection’s Birmingham Adoption Centre, says: “In all the years that I have been working at the centre I have never seen two cats that are so close. Wherever Captain is then Pugwash is by his side. Both are extremely affectionate and just want a warm, loving home for their remaining years.”

If you would like to offer Captain and Pugwash a home, contact the Birmingham Adoption Centre on 01564 822 020 or email birmingham@cats.org.uk

Cats Protection’s Northern Ireland Development Manager, Siobhan McHaffie, said: “As soon as we heard that the cats would be needing new homes we were delighted to offer our help. We believe it is the first time the charity has been approached to rehome such a large number of cats from one place, and we are delighted with the response we have already had from prospective owners and are confident we can find loving homes in Northern Ireland for all the cats.”

When news of the cats was featured in the local press, the centre was inundated with rehoming requests from the public, at one point leaving all of their pens empty during a thank-you tour for the charity’s sponsors.

Frost’s new owner Klaus said: “I chose Frost due to his very friendly and affectionate nature. Following CP’s guidelines on how to introduce cats, Frost and my existing cat Big Tom soon settled in well together. Their favourite evening pastime is sitting where their treats are stored and staring at me until a treat is provided. We’re all really glad I brought Frost home.”

Siobhan added: “The cats which have already been rehomed have settled into normal life extremely well. As they are adult cats which have never been outdoors, many of them will require indoor-only homes, though we are happy to discuss this on an individual basis with prospective adopters. They all come with a full history and we provide our own vet’s summary to their new owners as we do for all cats adopted through us.”

If you would like to get your paws on the official Cats Protection 2018 calendar you can order one from our online shop.

Anyone interested in rehoming one of the remaining testing facility cats should contact the Belfast Adoption Centre on 02890 480 202 or belfast@cats.org.uk

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Three cats have been dumped in Bridgend, Wales in just two weeks, prompting Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre to urge locals not to abandon their pets.

The first incident involved two 10-month old cats found by bikers off-roading on the common in Bryncethin. The moggies, now named Harley and Davidson, had been left in a cat carrier and were very hungry but in an otherwise good condition.

Harley and Davidson were rescued by bikers

The second incident involved a five-year old cat who had been left in a box by the side of the road in Rockwell. The poor kitty had managed to escape from the container but had become tangled in a towel when a driver spotted her. When he freed her she then ran underneath his vehicle, but a passer-by helped to catch her. The cat has now been named Chicken, as her rescuer was transporting chickens at the time. He placed her in a separate compartment within the birds’ cage to bring her to Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre where she is now recovering from her ordeal.

Chicken was dumped in a box by the side of the road

Susan Dobbs, Bridgend Adoption Centre Manager, said: “These cats were lucky to have been found and brought into our care unharmed. Sadly, this isn’t always the case as abandoned cats have been run over on the common or found close to death.”

Sue urges those who can no longer care for their cats to bring them to the centre rather than dumping them to fend for themselves. “Although we have a waiting list, we do prioritise urgent cases and will work with the owners to resolve the situation ASAP,” said Sue. “Stray cats take longer to admit as they have to be advertised in the area first and paper collars put on them to ensure that they are not owned.

“We would also urge owners to get their pet cats neutered as they are such prolific breeders. Just one unneutered cat can produce up to 18 offspring in a year so neutering will help to prevent more unwanted kittens like these in the future.”

Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre is currently working in partnership with the RSPCA to offer a £5 neutering and microchipping scheme to people on low incomes. To find out if a neutering scheme is happening in your area or to enquire about neutering vouchers, please call our neutering helpline 03000 12 12 12 or visit our website.

Harley, Davidson and Chicken will be available for adoption soon, if you would like to enquire about them, please call the centre on 01656 724 396. To look for cats available for adoption in your area, please visit the Cats Protection website.